The flag that climbs the pole at an Adventurer opening, a Pathfinder Day, or a simple Sabbath meeting carries far more than fabric and color: it carries respect, history, and identity. Carrying a flag in a ceremony is an honor, and, like every honor, it comes with rules. The good news is that those rules aren't complicated: they follow Law No. 5,700/1971 (Brazil's Flag Law) for the National Flag, and Pathfinder ceremonial tradition for the rest. Here's the essential guide so that every raising, every parade, and every flag guard is carried out with the dignity it deserves.
The place of honor: why position matters
Everything in flag etiquette revolves around one idea: the National Flag holds the place of honor among all others. Article 19 of Law No. 5,700/1971 spells this out clearly. When raised alongside other flags on a line of poles, it stands in the central position, or the one closest to the center and to its right. When carried in formations or parades, it goes set apart, out in front of the others.
One detail that trips up a lot of people: the flag's "right" is the right hand of someone standing at the pole facing the audience, not the right hand of the person watching. In practice, from the audience's point of view, the National Flag appears slightly to the left of the group when the number of flags is even. That's the same principle behind the sole paragraph of Article 19.
At the club, the order of precedence for flags follows the hierarchy. Pathfinder ceremonial tradition typically arranges them in this order of importance: National Flag, State Flag, Municipal Flag, Youth Ministries Flag, Pathfinder Flag, and the local club flag, with the National Flag always at the point of honor and the others alternating around it by seniority or importance.
Raising and lowering: the ceremony at the pole
Raising the flag is the heart of every civic ceremony. Law No. 5,700/1971 (Article 15) establishes that the National Flag may be raised and lowered at any hour of the day or night, but that raising is normally done at 8 a.m. and lowering at 6 p.m. If the flag remains up at night, it must be properly illuminated.
When several flags go up or come down at the same time, Article 16 applies: the National Flag is the first to reach the top and the last to come down from it. In practice, this means the National Flag's bearer pulls first and fastest on the way up, and holds last on the way down, a quiet gesture of precedence.
There's also a special date. On November 19, Flag Day, the raising takes place at noon (12 p.m.), with special solemnities, per Article 15, Paragraph 2. It's a good opportunity for the club to prepare a more careful ceremony.
Throughout the entire raising-and-lowering movement, one rule that Adventist ceremonial tradition firmly reinforces applies: the flag must never touch the ground. That same standard of respect extends to every other flag the club uses, not just the National Flag.
Carrying with drill: pennant, shoulder, and marching
In Pathfinders, carrying flags is part of drill, the set of synchronized movements that teaches discipline, coordination, and team spirit. Each flag has its own bearer, and each bearer follows standardized commands. The unit captain, for example, is responsible for carrying the pennant (the unit's small flag) in every activity.
The movements have their own names and set counts: present, rest, shoulder, and cross the pennant, plus raising it for turns and short moves. In parades and long marches, the drill guide recommends carrying it at "shoulder" or "cross" for greater comfort, resting the flag on command without ever letting it strike the ground.
For the National Flag on the march, Pathfinder ceremonial tradition calls for carrying it always upright, without tilting to either side, with the right hand firm on the staff. The other flags may be carried tilted slightly forward. There's a legal reason the National Flag doesn't tilt: Article 23 states that the National Flag is never dipped in salute, in other words, it never bows to anyone.
An important reminder specific to Pathfinders: the club does not handle, encourage, or accept the use of weapons. When drill manuals use the historic command "Present Arms," the Pathfinder responds with the Maranatha position (the club's salute) or with "Present Pennant", never with an actual weapon.
"The National Flag is never dipped in salute."Law No. 5,700/1971, Article 23
Read alsoWhere each patch goes on the Pathfinder uniformDue respect: standing, silent, one single salute
Respect during the ceremony is governed by Article 30 of Law No. 5,700/1971. During flag-raising or flag-lowering ceremonies, when the flag is presented on the march or in a procession, and during the playing of the National Anthem, everyone must show an attitude of respect, standing and in silence. Male civilians stand bare-headed (no cap or hat).
The law is categorical about the salute: the sole paragraph of Article 30 declares any other form of salute forbidden. That's why Pathfinder ceremonial tradition makes clear that the only civilian salute to the National Flag is the position of Attention, not even the Maranatha position is used for the National Flag, even though it is the club's own salute in other contexts.
As for the Anthem, Article 34 applies: vocal arrangements of the National Anthem are prohibited (except for the one by Alberto Nepomuceno), and instrumental arrangements require presidential authorization. In practice for the club: sing the Anthem in its official version, with no creative adaptations.
Storage and folding: caring for the flag when not in use
When not in use, the National Flag must be stored in a dignified place (Article 20). Never leave it crumpled in a corner, used as a tablecloth, or as decorative fabric, Article 31 expressly lists using it as clothing, a container, a curtain, or table trim as disrespect, along with displaying it in poor condition.
The correct way to fold the National Flag isn't found in Law 5,700, but in military ceremonial protocol, the Pathfinder guide reproduces Article 2-2-16 of the Navy Ceremonial Manual (Decree No. 4,447/2002). In short: fold it in half lengthwise, then in half again, then into three sections crosswise, finishing with the motto "Ordem e Progresso" facing up, ready to be carried on the arm.
Flags in poor condition don't go into regular trash. Article 32 provides that they be handed over to a military unit for incineration on Flag Day, following its own ceremonial protocol. It's the dignified end for a flag that has served its time.
For the club's other flags, Pathfinders, Youth Ministries, and the local club, ceremonial tradition recommends following the same standard of respect: storage in an appropriate place, careful upkeep, and always taking care never to let them touch the ground.
Common mistakes to avoid
Reversing the place of honor. Putting the club or state flag in the center and leaving the National Flag off to the side is the most frequent mistake. The National Flag goes in the center (odd number) or center-right (even number), always. And remember: "right" means the right hand of whoever is raising it while facing the audience, not the observer's right.
Letting the flag touch the ground. This happens a lot when resting the pennant or lowering it from the pole. The rest position calls for the staff to settle on the ground without striking it, but the fabric itself should never drag or touch the floor.
Dipping the National Flag in salute. As nice a gesture as it may seem, it's forbidden: it is never dipped in salute (Article 23). Always carry it upright.
Forgetting nighttime lighting. If the flag stays up at night, it must be properly illuminated (Article 15, Paragraph 3). Without lighting, the correct move is to lower it at sunset.
Using improvised salutes or anthem arrangements. For the National Flag, the only civilian salute is the position of Attention; the Anthem is sung in its official version. No extra gestures or creative arrangements.
Storing it carelessly. A crumpled, dirty, or torn flag is disrespect under the law. Fold it correctly and store it in a dignified place.